She was born in Lancaster on Oct. 18, 1929 and attended elementary and secondary schools in Lititz and Rothsville.

The former Phyllis Zell is survived by her brother: Stanley Zell; sister: Mary Jane Zell; two sons: David and Dale, their spouses Mary and Patsy; her son-in-law: Kent Whiting; eight grandchildren: Mark and his spouse Heather, Elizabeth, Matthew, Philip and Nathan Hess, and Nathan’s spouse Rebekah, Ross Whiting and his spouse Ashley, Ryan Whiting and his spouse Ashley and Evan Whiting and seven great-grandchildren: Charlie Whiting, Ethan Burris, Nathaniel, Levi, Anna, Leah and Megan Hess and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband: Russell E. Hess; her daughter: Jill B. Whiting, her brothers: John and William Zell and sisters: Kathryn Zimmerman, Dorothy Oxenrider and Shirley Wright and her parents: William R. Zell and the former Kathryn S. Althouse from Lititz.

She lived for many years in Lancaster with her husband then the family moved to Harrisburg in 1966 with their three children.

She was a proud stay-at-home mom who took an active interest in raising her children, was an active leader in the Girl Scouts and at their schools.

She had a life-long interest in researching the Zell and Hess family trees and produced family histories, collected family photographs and organized an annual Zell family reunion in Lititz.

Her career outside the home included working for the Denver and Ephrata Telephone Company as a young woman, Rite Aid Corporation and the PMSLIC Medical Insurance Company from which she retired.

A visitation will be held starting at 1 p.m. and a memorial service at 2 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Neill Funeral Home, 3501 Derry Street, Harrisburg.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mennonite Central Committee, PO Box 500, Akron, PA 17501-0500.